An investigation by the Tennessee Department of Health has found E. coli bacteria was the cause of sickness that affected at least 550 people at a Gatlinburg area zipline attraction.
Angela Gosnell, Knoxville News Sentinel

Some of the 550 people who recently fell ill after visiting a Gatlinburg-area zipline attraction tested positive for norovirus, a contagious virus characterized by nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, the Tennessee Department of Health said Thursday.

In a news release, the health department said "multiple" people who visited CLIMB Works Zipline Canopy Tour tested positive for norovirus while one person tested positive for both norovirus and enteropathogenic E. coli.

Investigators have not yet determined the exact cause of the outbreak but believe the facility's water system, contaminated surfaces and person-to-person contact may all be factors.

"Water testing has indicated fecal contamination of the facility's water system," said John Dunn, deputy state epidemiologist for the health department.

"It’s important to note that while norovirus is reliably identified in stool samples during outbreak investigations, identifying it in food, water and the environment is more challenging.”

The health department says CLIMB Works has cooperated fully with the investigation. The attraction closed on Sunday to sanitize the facility. They also added new filtration systems and began distributing bottled water to patrons instead of well water.

CLIMB Works owner Nick Thompson has said he is providing refunds to patrons who fell ill while visiting the attraction.